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Is New York Jets General Manager John Idzik Regretting not Signing a Big Name Cornerback?

August 11th, 2014 at 10:00 AM By Mario Scipioni

The New York Jets quickly went from a team on the rise to a team looking on the outside in in many people's eyes in the matter of a day. With Dexter McDougle suffering a torn ACL, which will force him to miss the season, and Dee Milliner suffering a high ankle sprain, the cornerback position is now in disarray.

Jets general manager John Idzik had great chances to sign some of the biggest names at cornerback throughout free agency. The most notable players include Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Captain Munnerlyn, Alterraun Verner, and Brandon Flowers. Instead of bringing one of these players over, he decided to address by adding Dimitri Patterson, who brings a lot of injury concerns, and selecting McDougle and Brandon Dixon in the 2014 NFL Draft. Especially with the current situation, the Jets could have really used one of those big name players.

Patterson was not impressive in the first preseason game, Kyle Wilson has been a disappointment since day one, and Ellis Lankster and Darrin Walls are just not ready for the role of being a starter. If someone like any of the mentioned players had been brought in, there would be a sense of security and much less panic among fans. A veteran cornerback with the talent of players like Rodgers-Cromartie and Flowers would have been very helpful to the defense and avoided the mess that the Jets are in right now.

Is it possible that Idzik regrets not bringing any of these players in when he had the chance? It is well-known that it is not part of his philosophy to grab such names at any costs. Idzik believes more in developing players over time and creating competition, which eventually creates long-term roster depth. However, this may have been one of those times where it would have been okay for him to make an exception to his own rules. The talent of the players mentioned would have made an immediate impact and would have actually been helpful for years to come since none of them are over 28 years old.

Luckily, there are still some solid names available in free agency. Some interesting players include Asante Samuel, Quentin Jammer, and Drayton Florence. There are already stories out about the Jets looking into Samuel. The Jets have the cap space to make a move, and Idzik may want to roll the dice and take a chance. None of their available options appear ready to take on the challenge of starting every week, especially during weeks two through seven when they will be playing some tough teams and some of the NFL's best receivers.

Although he will not show it, Idzik may actually be regretting not making a big splash. Even with the injury of Dee Milliner, any big name veteran would have made a huge difference. While Idzik should continue his way of finding players, he may want to consider bringing in a desirable player for the right price at almost any cost. Building a strong team through the NFL Draft and bargain free agency signings has proven to be successful, but one big name can bring a huge spark to the team.